FORMER Patriotic Front (PF) Matero Member of Parliament (MP) Miles Sampa’s press briefing at Moba Hotel in Kitwe to explain his resignation from the ruling party failed to take off yesterday because he returned to Lusaka while police were arranging security for him.

Police on the Copperbelt were infact not aware of Mr Sampa’s presence in the region.

Copperbelt Police Commissio ner Charity Katanga said the police were not aware that Mr Sampa was in the province and scheduled to hold a press briefing at Moba hotel.

While Mr Sampa’s supporters claimed that the press briefing failed because of PF cadres who prevented the former Matero member of Parliament to alight from the plane at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport, Police denied being aware of the presence of Mr Sampa on the Copperbelt.

“We were not aware of Mr Sampa’s presence and coming to the Copperbelt. We also heard it from the press that he was scheduled to hold a press briefing. We were not notified,” Ms Katanga said.

Ms Katanga warned Mr Sampa not to drag the name of the Copperbelt police command into politics.

Mr Sampa posted yesterday on his Facebook page that police on the Copperbelt cancelled his press briefing.

“Please be advised the press briefing scheduled to take place today in Kitwe has been canceled by the police,” read Mr Sampa’s facebook post.

But Ms Katanga explained that when Mr Sampa was flying from Lusaka to Ndola, a lady identified as Rachel Chileshe called her (Katanga) complaining that the airport had been surrounded by unknown cadres.

“…So I advised the lady to tell Mr Sampa through the security at the airport, not to disembark from the plane until we beefed up security. When I managed to mobilize more security I was told that he had flown back to Lusaka” Ms Katanga said.

She explained that the incident happened after some people suspected to be PF cadres went to camp at the airport welcome him.

And one of Mr Sampa’s sympathizers, Rasmith Mwaba, who was organizing the meeting confirmed that the meeting had been cancelled.

“Yes, i can confirm that the meeting has been cancelled, but i can’t say anything now because i have a lot of things on my mind, i need to sort out a number of issues,” Mr Mwaba said.